Columbia Breweries

In 2012, two entrepreneurs transformed an urban warehouse space off of Bluff Road into Conquest Brewing Company and kicked off the brewery development in Columbia SC. In succession, River Rat Brewery and Swamp Cabbage Brewing followed, giving the city a walkable brewery triangle, with all three locations being within a mile of the others. Most recently, Bierkeller, which specializes in classical German brewing techniques, brews in the facilities at Swamp Cabbage, and pops up authentic biergartens in charming locations throughout the Midlands.

Each brewery has its own vibe, ranging from playful with oversized games, to kid-friendly with a big outdoor grassy area that’s perfect for kids running around or a morning session of brewery yoga.

In addition to the breweries themselves, craft beer related activities have popped up as well. The Columbia Brew Bus shuttles groups to each brewery and gives an oral history of the city’s storied beer history. The Pedal Parlor, an unusual looking contraption, tasks groups with pedaling their way from brewery to brewery as they burn off some beer calories along the way. Soda City Suds Week, an independent week-long celebration of craft beer, takes place each March and is capped off with Cream of the Crop, the city’s premier beer festival.

For all things beer-related in Columbia SC, search through the listings below.